Rockies not done dealing -- Astacio next?

The trade that sent Ron Gant to the A's was the Rockies' third in 10 days, and they might not be done. Pitcher Pedro Astacio is on the block, and the Cardinals could nab him if they whiff on Pittsburgh's Jason Schmidt.

-- The Cardinals also inquired about Angels reliever Troy Percival, an All- Star who said he'd prefer to play for a contender.

-- An update on the Reds' youth movement: They signed 36-year-old Jose Rijo and 32-year-old Pete Rose Jr.

-- The word on Little Pete is that once he proves again that he can't play, he'll begin a coaching career.

-- Ben Grieve was benched some games last week for his dreadful hitting -- . 247 with six homers and a league-leading 84 strikeouts -- and Tampa Bay manager Hal McRae said, "The guys that are playing today are the guys that are playing the best."

-- The Royals say they're not shopping Jermaine Dye, but that's a temporary thought. He's definitely available, and the more they wait, the more teams become desperate and the more the Royals receive in return. He makes $3.8 million and is eligible for arbitration after this season and free agency after next season.

-- Detroit's Dean Palmer, who has been limited to DH duties because his right shoulder hasn't healed following winter surgery, is prepared to miss the rest of the season, undergo another surgery and try third base again next year.

-- White Sox DH Harold

Baines skipped the team's recent visit to the White House. "Why would I want to go visit him? I sure didn't vote for him," Baines said of President Bush, who joked during his campaign about how he traded Sammy Sosa for Baines when he owned the Rangers.

-- Cleveland's Dave Burba snapped at pitching coach Dick Pole after he was pulled from an outing in Kansas City in which he allowed four home runs in one inning. He was even worse his next start, allowing eight runs by the third inning against Boston and walking off Jacobs Field to a round of boos. Burba responded by tipping his cap to the crowd.

-- The Dodgers were desperate to win the bidding war for 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Irvin Joel Guzman, giving him $2.25 million, because they didn't have a first-round pick in the June draft and their highest selection was No. 68.